‘Wake-up call’: Shocking rate of Gold Coast shoppers going without masks
Gold Coast residents seem unfazed by the risk of a new Covid-19 outbreak, as more than half of the shoppers taking to one of the region’s busiest retail precincts went without masks.
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Gold Coast residents seem unfazed by the risk of a new Covid-19 outbreak as more than half of the shoppers taking to one of the region’s busiest retail precincts go without masks.
Within hours of Chief health officer Dr Jeannette Young announcing an unvaccinated Broadbeach rideshare driver was infectious in the community for 10 days, there were more coast shoppers spotted without a mask than those wearing one.
The Courier-Mail observed 416 unmasked adults, who weren’t eating or drinking, wandering the indoor area of the busy shopping centre during a 90-minute window on Thursday afternoon.
A further 97 shoppers weren’t wearing their mask correctly, while 375 adults were complying with the mask mandate which was detailed on signs throughout the centre.
Demographics didn’t seem to determine whether a person was wearing a mask with those of all ages spotted going without.
Queensland Health announced earlier this month that face mask restrictions would continue to apply to 11 council areas across the southeast including the Gold Coast.
The mask mandate requires Gold Coast residents to wear a face mask at all times when indoors unless you are seated, at your home, eating or drinking, a patron in a cafe or restaurant, inside a sports stadium or if it’s unsafe to wear a mask.
Many Gold Coast residents don’t seem to be heeding the government’s orders even after the rideshare driver was hospitalised with the Delta variant of Covid-19.
The Queensland Health website states people do not need a medical certificate to prove they have a lawful reason for not wearing a mask, which makes it difficult for retailers to enforce mask compliance.
The shopping centre was approached for comment.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk on Thursday morning said the rate of vaccinations in the region was also concerning.
“This is a wake-up call for the Gold Coast,” she said.
More than 150,000 eligible Gold Coasters remain unvaccinated.
Originally published as ‘Wake-up call’: Shocking rate of Gold Coast shoppers going without masks
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